Portland Rose

July 10, 2013

It is official. I win the award for bad blogger!! Honestly, it has not felt like it has been that long since my last post. Time flies when you are having fun!! :-) Lots to share, so I really need to start posting more. I post on Instagram (find me at hrckal) almost daily because it is soooo quick and easy...fun too!! I was thinking that if you guys do not mind short and sweet posts that I would start to do that more and save the big ones for when I reveal quilts. Does that sound like a good deal??

I cannot believe how much I have traveled (by car) so far this summer! Two trips to Wisconsin. One for an amazing quilt retreat with some seriously talented ladies!! Like so talented, I found myself thinking "what the heck am I doing here??" More about that trip later. Then last weekend Scott and I traveled to Wisconsin for the marriage of Lisa and Nick Bongean's son. We had the best time EVER!! Again, more on that in another post.

Since I have not posted in over a month, I have a really REALLY good one for ya all!! "Portland Rose" is the final quilt for the book Flannel Gatherings by Lisa Bongean. Flannel Gatherings is available here. Lisa has been waiting patiently for this last quilt to do the final touches for the book. In my opinion, this quilt is spectacular. It may very well be my Michael Jackson's Thriller....meaning I may never top the quilting on this one. A little background on the quilt...it is wool applique on flannel. It measures around 105" x 105". Not small. I will share just a few photos. Wink. Wink. :-)

I won't jabber on. I will let the photos do most of the talking. The batting is Dream Wool and So Fine threads from Superior. 2 and one half cones worth!!!!

This quilt is big so I did have to do some pre-planning on the design. I wanted to create a design that would create a secondary design that would frame the applique. I wanted the designs to enhance the quilt. Antique quilts were my inspiration. It was wonderful to see my vision come to life!!

The borders are 20". I asked Lisa while laying out the design, to make sure I had space for quilting....ummmmm, yeah...then when it came time to quilt, I was saying to myself "what were you thinking??!!!" Lol!

In order to get the quilting to pop and look like trapunto, I did some major TEENY TINY micro work.

That is one of those fine glass pins. :-)

A couple of "as I was quilting pics." Love that center medallion!!!! I stitched in the the ditch and around all the appliques first. Basted all the open areas all the way down the quilt and then worked my way back up the quilt with the quilting. I was afraid all that micro work would distort the quilt if I did my normal quilt as I go method. In the pic below, you can see the area around the feathers/ feather wreath at the top are not quilted and still very puffy.

We delivered the quilt in person since we were headed to Wisconsin anyways for the wedding. Lisa was over-the-moon about the quilting. She had a pre-wedding celebration at her lakehouse and left it out for all her guests to admire. Scott was able to take some pics with our good camera. :-)

There is some of that micro work.

And the back, which I love nearly as much as the front.

Before Quilting

Last but not least...

The girls have Competitive Team Dance Camp this week. I told them they could invite some of the girls over for the night. Now I have 6 twelve year olds running around upstairs. Again, what was I thinking??? LOL!! Gotta run!!

WOW, Linda...you have really out done yourself on this quilt...your designs are beautiful and really do justice to the whole piece...it looks like the quilt was put together beautifully, which has certainly given you a wonderful "canvas" to work on...Well done...I LOVE it..

Truly AMAZING!!!! I thought you were up to something, since you had not posted in awhile. This is truly a special quilt, and thank you for sharing so many pictures, I don't think I could get tired of looking!

You blow my mind. Words cannot describe. Quilt is beautiful, cannot wait for the book to come out, but your quilting is out of this world. I have quilted the itty bitty micro, cannot imagine quilting micro this much, but it is just amazing.

Who cares if you don't post for a month when you bring us something so totally spectacular, Linda!! I seriously cannot shut my mouth, I'm so in awe! Your secondary design flows so beautifully - to come up with that is nothing short of genius! How fun to be able to deliver to Lisa in person, too! Have fun with the girls!Cheers!

Oh My!! So worth the wait, that is flippin gorgeous! Beautiful blend of feathers, curved cross hatching and that micro stipple...WOW! You've out done yourself this time Linda!!Enjoy your evening with all those girls!

I have to say that is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen! You are beyond talented. As a sewer/piecer I have always been in awe of the way "quilting" really makes the quilt. I don't know how anyone could top that work. Simply amazing. You should be very proud.

Linda, I have no idea how you even come up with your amazing designs, let alone execute your design to perfection. This one is a real beauty. I hope I get to see it in the Primitive Gatherings booth someday. Great job.

Oh my you have simply out done yourself. AMAZING quilting. I've been staring at the pictures for about 15 minutes now, and will certainly stare at them some more. The secondary design with the quilting is just so creative and wonderful!!

Epic!!! Iconic!!! What can I say... it is just amazing! Already saw it on IG and was blown away by your quilting. Looks like lacework in/on delicate china. And, oh, the back! I do hope I will be able to see this in real life one day...

Superbly done!! Hard to describe the feeling one gets looking at these pictures... imagine seeing it in person! My heart flutters just looking! Spectacular quilt! thank you so much for so many great photos!

You have made this quilt sing! Your quilting is spectacular. I really love the secondary pattern you have created so cleverly. The texture the quilting creates is fabulous. I'm sure Lisa must be thrilled. I am always so delighted when you have so many pictures to really show the quilting you have done, thankyou so much for sharing !

Portland Rose is truly amazing. The details in this quilt must have taken seemingly forever to finish. I love how everything visually pops off one another. The flower pops off the background and so on throughout. This quilt is going to turn any room it is placed in into a showstopper.

I am awestruck. You are so talented. I am more than happy to wait for a blog post if it means enjoying the many photos you post to show off your work. I would love to follow you on Instagram but you are a private user - I would be happy if you would please accept me as one of your followers. My Instagram name is Riamdesigns. Thank you. Lisa M.

This is amazing. I love it. I wish I could send you my quilt tops to quilt, but am sure it would be cost prohibitive for me as I live in Australia. I would love to follow you on Instagram and would be happy if you would accept my request. My Instagram user name is Riamdesigns. Thank you, Lisa M.

I am awestruck. You are so talented. I am more than happy to wait for a blog post if it means enjoying the many photos you post to show off your work. I would love to follow you on Instagram but you are a private user - I would be happy if you would please accept me as one of your followers. My Instagram name is Riamdesigns. Thank you. Lisa M.

Your quilting is beyond amazing. I don't think I could ever achieve this level of quilting but you have inspired me to at least give it a try, on a small project of course, to see if I can do it. I could spend hours looking at your work.

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